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American University

Department of Performing Arts

Department of Performing Arts

4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20016
(202) 885-1000
admissions@american.edu

Degrees offered

Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre
Minor in Theatre
Bachelor of Arts in Dance
Minor in Dance
Master of Arts in Arts Management

About the program

American University's Theatre and Musical Theatre Programs will provide you with the necessary education to enable you to perform in, design, manage, or direct a production and succeed in a variety of professions outside the theatre. Both programs are grounded in a strong liberal arts tradition. The Theatre major features specialized tracks in Performance, Design and Technical Theatre, or Arts Management. Theatre majors may also opt to honor the liberal arts tradition by choosing the broadly focused and interdisciplinary Theatre Arts track. The Musical Theatre major builds upon the same liberal arts foundation of the theatre major by combining it with serious training in acting, voice, and dance. Regardless of major or track, all students are encouraged to develop their critical thinking skills and intellectual curiosity. The theatre and music theatre faculty offer students the benefit of their academic training as well as their expertise as seasoned scholars, performers, writers, directors, designers, and choreographers. They are dedicated and committed to their profession and as professionals are able to bring some of the "real world" into the classroom. In the past, theatre students have had the opportunity to work closely with and observe internationally recognized artists in core classes, electives, productions, and extra-curricular seminars and workshops. Some of our distinguished guests and teaching artists include: Broadway composer Dick Scanlon, LA Writer/Producer and Emmy winner Gary Dontzig, Broadway Director Scott Ellis, Signature Theatre's Michael Baron, Fords' Theatre's Mark Ramont, Synetic Theatre's Paata Tsikurishvili, Broadway designer James Kronzer, and Hollywood actor Herb Edelman.

Notable alumni

<p>Michele Snyder, <a href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Vishal-Vaidya/">Vishal Vaidya</a> (Groundhog Day the Musical), <a href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Margo-Seibert/">Margo Seibert</a> (Rocky the Musical), <a href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/America-Ferrera/">America Ferrera</a>, <a href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Goldie-Hawn/">Goldie Hawn</a>.</p>

Acceptance rate

American University's overall acceptance rate is 47%

Faculty

Jason Arnold (Designer in Residence), Nathan Blustein (Professorial Lecturer), Faedra Chatard Carpenter (Assoc Professor), Tara Giordano (Professorial Lecturer), Caleen Jennings (Professor), Karl Kippola (Associate Professor), Gail Mardirosian (Associate Prof Emerita), Carl Menninger (Assistant Professor), Aaron Posner (Associate Professor), Meghan Raham (Associate Professor), Colleen Sullivan (Professorial Lecturer), Sybil Williams (Director of African American and African Diaspora Studies), Robert Williams (Fight Choreographer in Residence).

Two New Japanese Plays Are Headed to London

Two New Japanese Plays Are Headed to London

by Stephi Wild — July 9, 2024

Umeda Arts Theater will present two new UK-Japan collaboration projects featuring up-and-coming Japanese writers and directors at London’s Charing Cross Theatre.

Past student productions

Past student productions at American University
Show Dates Theater
6/13 Katzen Center for the Arts, American University
4/11 – 4/13/2019
Cast
American University- AU Players

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